John the Baptist begins to have doubts - maybe because he thinks Jesus is 'taking too long'. Jesus defends John the Baptist as the New Elijah - the Elijah 'to come'. Judgement for the unbelievers in Bethsaida and Korazin. (Were they bored, apathetic or dispassionate at his message of repentance before God). Jesus' prayer of thanksgiving to give to the simple at heart, the meek. Jesus is that 'Sabbath day' rest on two legs: every day. (Everything rolls up into Jesus in Colossians 2:16, 17)

Samuel anoints Saul as king. Samuel's signs are fulfilled. Saul is acclaimed king. He is a type/symbol of the King to come, King Jesus, who is the Anti-Type/reality of a New Kingdom to come.

Jesus sends out the 12 apostles. He gives them authority as carriers of the Good News.

Saul - a future king - goes looking for some donkeys (Jesus - the Future King - comes into Jerusalem on a donkey. Saul meets Samuel. God says to Samuel that Saul will be the future first king.

Jesus calls Matthew. Jesus raises a girl from the dead. And other miracles.

The people reject God as a king and want a human as a king. It's almost like when Jesus was rejected in favor of Barabbas. Samuel lays out the difficulties in installing a human as king (instead of God).

Jesus' power over healing and over demons.

Samuel leads Israel to victory. Samuel is a prophet, judge and a strong leader.

Do not judge others. Effective Prayer. The Golden Rule and the Narrow Path. The Tree and its Fruit: beware of false prophets (even false prophetesses who claim they are speaking for Christ through angel messengers and writing a lot of books to make money in order to make a name for themselves and fleece and deceive the people). Building on the Rock of Christ vs. the Sand of Man's thinking. (Please forgive that not everything was in the NLT - as I think that I switched to the KJV during the reading and somehow forgot to switch back to the NLT during the end of the chapter.)

The Philistines figure that God is the source of the plague because they stole the Ark. The Philistines return the Ark along with golden idols of emerods (hemorrhoids; tumours) . The Ark Moved to Kiriath-Jearim from Beth-shemesh. The rock at Beth-Shemesh a symbol of Jesus Christ, the rock on which all else is built.